(Borax.)

Origin. - Prepared by boiling together solutions of boric acid and sodium carbonate, the borax crystallizing out. It is also found in a native state on the shores of certain lakes and as a crystalline deposit in the borax lake of California.

Description and Properties. - Colorless, transparent, monoclinic prisms, or a white powder, inodorous, and of a sweetish, alkaline taste; slightly efflorescent in warm, dry air; soluble in 16 parts of water and in 1 part of glycerin; insoluble in alcohol.

Dose. - 5-30 grains (0.32-2.0 Gm.).

Antagonists and Incompatibles. - The incompatibles of borax are the acids and metallic salts. Morphine and cocaine are precipitated from solutions by borax. Boric acid is also incompatible with the carbonates and bicarbonates, and with the alkaline, earthy, and metallic bases.

Synergists. - The action of borax is enhanced by alkalies and substances promoting waste; that of boric acid, by the antiseptics.

Physiological Action. - Externally and Locally. - Borax is absorbent, protectant, sedative, and antiseptic. Applied to the unbroken skin, it acts upon the epidermis as a soap. By removing the stimulus to secretion and lessening irritation borax checks the secretion of the salivary glands.

Boric acid possesses properties similar to those of borax, although more of an antiseptic and antipruritic. It has also an exsiccant and detergent influence. It is a very weak acid and shows little hydrogen ion action.

Internally. -In a general way the action of borax is analogous to that of the alkalies. It is refrigerant and diuretic, and by its immediate action upon the womb serves as an emmenagogue, large doses contracting the uterine muscles and acting as an ecbolic. Excessive doses of either of these drugs act as gastro-intestinal irritants.

Boric acid, though stronger, resembles borax in its action. Both substances, especially boric acid, retard the action of saliva upon starch, increasing that of the pancreatic juice upon albuminous substances, and increase gastric digestion. Immoderate doses of boric acid check gastric digestion.

The drug is a moderate antipyretic, and when injected in large amounts into the circulation may occasion paralysis of the motor nerves and muscles.

Absorption and Elimination. - It is eliminated by the saliva, perspiration, feces, and urine, the latter being, according to Gies, diminished in quantity. The amount of nitrogen and solid matter excreted with the feces is also increased, as well as the elimination of urea in the urine.

Untoward Action. - Boric acid absorbed from boric-acid dressings has occasioned the following untoward symptoms; frequent desire to micturate; nausea, vomiting, and other gastric disturbances; small, weak pulse; sleeplessness, muscular weakness, dimness of sight, depression, headache, hiccough, and various cutaneous eruptions, particularly eczema and psoriasis. Some of the untoward symptoms have seemed to arise in people who ate food preserved by borax (see Wiley's Report, U. S. Bureau of Chemistry).

Poisoning. - The symptoms of poisoning are analogous to those just described.

Treatment of Poisoning. - The treatment of poisoning should be symptomatic; stimulants, morphine, etc., being employed.

Therapeutics. - Externally and Locally. - Both borax and boric acids are valuable as local remedies in the treatment of many disorders of the ear, nose, and throat, such as acute and chronic nasal catarrh, pharyngitis, gingivitis, and acute hoarseness.

An efficient domestic remedy in aphthae affecting the mouths of nursing children is a mixture of borax and honey.

An invaluable antiseptic application in acute conjunctivitis is a saturated solution of boric acid, and the dry powder serves as an efficient remedy in otorrhea.

Leukorrhea, gonorrhea, and chronic cystitis are greatly benefited by solutions, in various strengths, of either or both of these drugs. Sir James Simpson recommends a solution of borax, 5-10 grains (0.32-0.6 Gm.) to 1 ounce (30.0 Cc.) of hot water, for the eruption occurring on the mucous membrane of the vulva in young girls.

It is invaluable as a bland, unirritating antiseptic in general surgery, and in diseases of the eye, ear, nose, throat, and skin.

It should be borne in mind, however, that the antibacterial action of these compounds is very slight, and only concentrated solutions are of any avail. In otitis media it can be used in alcoholic solution, the evaporation of the alcohol leaving the pure substance behind.

Internally. - Borax is used internally more than boric acid. While in epilepsy inferior to the bromides, there are cases uninfluenced by the latter remedies which respond favorably to borax.

Its value in epilepsy is very questionable unless one ascribes it to its antibacterial action in the intestines, thus limiting putrefactive processes in this viscus.

In chronic cystitis 5-grain (0.3 Gm.) doses of boric acid three times a day are useful.

These drugs have been used internally in the summer diarrhea of children.

Administration. - The remedies may be given in capsules or solution. The taste of borax may be disguised by coffee, syrup of orange, or aromatic elixir of licorice, the drug not being administered with glycerin, lest an acid reaction occur.

The newly introduced liquor antisepticus is a convenient mode to prescribe a cheap antiseptic lotion.